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I've looked at dozens of sets of dormers, trying to come up with an "ideal" design for our new house. Do any of you have any rules of thumb that you use as concerns size of window vs. dormer projection, ideal placement for the top of the window, etc. Just rules of thumb that you follow when doing new construction. Or is there a source for "good design principles."
*Are the dormer(s)needed for bedroom egress? Often that requirement will determine the window size and its sill height (+ -) above the floor.Francis
*the source is years of doing it... or five years of Architectural school...this is why they get the big bucks...bad builders are a dime a dozen, good builders are legion ... but good design is most important,draw it to scale .. and see if you like it....look up some of the design articles in FHB or JLC..
*i this is why they get the big bucks... Oh, right, Mike.Actually, ITA on years of doing it. Proportion and trimming out being the most important.
*"My name is legion, for we are many"
*jeff, jeff, jeff... we gotta talk...you oughta be gettin the big bucks...not that i am.. but , i'm not an architect..lets talk about marketing..
*I have pictures of many, many dormers in our area, and here's what I have gleaned from studying them (this is based on what looks right to me): window is about 2/3 of width of dormer; space below window is equal to or less than space at the side, top of window level with overhang.What prompted this is a "discussion" my wife and are having. Our dormers are a little taller than most (but so's the house) because we used 16" floor trusses instead of 10" joists, and the way the porch (4/12 pitch, shed roof) worked out. So I think we need a 5' window (high) because it works out as described above. She says that's too tall, but I think it's in scale with the rest of the house; the lower windows are 6'.